International cricketers returned to Pakistan and were soundly beaten by the hosts at Karachi’s National Stadium. Umar Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan each hit blistering half-centuries to help Pakistan XI to 222 for seven from their 20 overs, while Karachi-born fast-bowler Tabish Khan took a hat-trick in the International XI run chase.

The match was the brainchild of local sports minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah and is not an official Twenty20 match. Nonetheless, it was well attended by the cricket-starved Pakistani public, who saw a dominant display from what was a star-studded Pakistan XI line-up.

Their openers Imran Nazir and Shahzaib Hasan added an astonishing 83 runs in the first six overs as the likes of Andre Nel, Nantie Hayward and Shapoor Zadran were run ragged. Nazir was finally extracted by teenage West Indian off-spinner Steven Taylor, but Shahzaib would go on to make 54 off 21 balls before departing to South African spinner Thandi Tshabalala.

The onslaught did not end there for the International XI attack, as Umar Akmal blazed 67 not out off 37 balls to take the hosts well past the 200 mark. Tshabalala ended as the pick of the visitors’ attack with three for 20, while Afghan opening bowler Shapoor Zadran took two for 38.

In reply, the International XI were outclassed by the Pakistani opening bowling trio of Anwar Ali (one for 24), Wahab Riaz (two for 17) and Tabish Khan (three for 25). Ali dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya in the opening over, while Riaz collected the wickets of Afghan gloveman Mohammad Shahzad (14 off eight balls) and Steven Taylor (15 off 15). Tabish Khan took a hat-trick in the seventh over with the wickets of Ricardo Powell, Jermaine Lawson and Tshabalala.

The match did have more than an air of an exhibition feel to it, especially in the second half, as Pakistan XI used 10 bowlers and International XI promoted Shapoor Zadran to number five, where he top-scored with 42 off 51 balls, and demoted Loots Bosman to number nine below the likes of Lawson and Nel. He ended unbeaten on 27 not out off 16 balls as International XI closed on 138 for eight.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at the same venue at 1400 GMT for the final match in the series.